Aspergillus. Complications, ulceration, lesions of adjoining parts, food in lungs, hepatization, gangrene. Treatment, by incision, sulphur dioxide, iodine.
Rivolta and Bassi have found in the guttural pouches of horses and a mule, an advancing ulceration of the mucosa partially covered with crusts composed largely of the mycelium, conidia and spores of Aspergillus or a closely allied fungus. In the mule the ulcer had opened into the carotid artery causing a profuse epistaxis. In the three horses there was dysphagia, and the food, descending to the lungs, had caused pulmonary hepatization and gangrene. The description of the ulcers led Raillet to infer the existence of glanders and that the presence of the aspergillus was accidental, rather than a causative factor. In parallel cases the opening of the guttural pouch and injection with sulphurous acid solution or dilute solution of iodine would be appropriate treatment.
DISEASES OF THE CHEST.
Cough, its artificial production, precautions, character in different animals. Cough in disease, strong, full, ringing, weak, short, broken, abortive, dry, rasping, croupy, small, husky, soft, humid, rattling, mucous, paroxysmal, sympathetic, wheezing, roaring, whistling, grunt, moan. Expectoration, nasal in horse, also buccal in other animals. Morbid expectoration, watery, viscid, cloudy, flocculent, purulent, rusty, cretaceous, parasitic, fœtid, varicolored, microbic. Expired air, warm, cool, vegetable odor, acid, fœtid, heavy. Respiration, number in health, alteration in disease, rapid, slow, tardy, short, catching, quick, deep, labored. Position, standing, lying. Pleuritic breathing, broken winded.
Before describing specific diseases, it is needful to consider the methods of physical diagnosis which enable the practitioner to differentiate the diseases of the chest. Some of the following remarks will bear equally on diseases of the nose and throat as well.
COUGH.
The cough so varied in health and in disease deserves careful practical study. It can usually be excited in solipedes, sheep and dogs by pinching the first ring of the windpipe between the thumb and first two fingers. In oxen it is best produced by compressing the anterior part of the larynx. In old cattle it is difficult to produce coughing. In no animal should the attempt be made rudely nor unnecessarily repeated, as it may tend to excite or to aggravate already existing sore throat.
The cough of the healthy horse is sharp, loud and ringing, often repeated two or three times and followed by a snort (clearing of himself). It is weaker in young horses and shorter and drier in the aged.
The usual cough of the ox is weak, dry, slightly husky and prolonged.
That of the sheep, small, weak and dry.